The Pentateuch

Abstract

The Pentateuch Christopher T. Begg, Thomas Hieke, Richard A. Taylor, and Fred W. Guyette Christopher T. Begg Catholic University of America Thomas Hieke Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz Richard A. Taylor Dallas Theological Seminary Fred W. Guyette Erskine College and Seminary 848. [Lexemes for Evil in the Book of Genesis] Ingrid Faro, Evil in Genesis: A Contextual Analysis of Hebrew Lexemes for Evil in the Book of Genesis (Studies in [End Page 293] Scripture & Biblical Theology; Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021). Pp. xxi + 279. Paper $29.99. ISBN 978-1-68359-451-2. The goal of this two-part study is to contribute to a biblical understanding of the meaning and usage of the concept of evil through a contextual analysis of the lexemes for evil (rʿʿ, rʿh, rʿ) in the MT text of Genesis. In Part I (analysis of the data), I find evil to be a hypernym, with a wide semantic range: from unpleasant, displeasing, deficient, to harmful, sinful, or wicked. Good and evil play a role in developing the plot conflict woven throughout the literary structure of Genesis via interlinked textual connections, As emerges from collocations used as well as exegetical and literary analysis, evil in Genesis contrasts with the book's broad use of "good" terminology, which encompasses the domains of what is pleasant, delicious, abundant, flourishing, harmonious, blessed, peaceful, and righteous. In Genesis, the foundation is established for the Deuteronomic triads of good-blessed-life versus evil-cursed-death that find embodiment in human choices either to follow God or not. Evil in Genesis is also most closely collocated with words pertaining to sight, which carries a canonical weight of significance with regard to how God and humanity perceive good and evil. In Part II, I focus on the two primary word groupings associated with evil in Genesis, i.e., sight and goodness. These groupings are traced through each major unit of text, thereby developing the larger concept of evil in Genesis that underlies divine, human, and nonhuman created agency. In Part III, Synthesis, I follow the development of the theological plot conflict between evil and good as this manifests itself throughout Genesis. Many agencies and wills are at work in the performance of evil and good in the book. Genesis portrays evil as a reality with culpable human and non-human agents. Humanity was created as God's image-bearer, to represent him appropriately in the physical universe. Humanity did not, however, do well in its coregency role. Genesis shows humanity as capable of both good and evil, and with a capacity for change. Evil is never called good. Experiencing evil in this world is a given in the book. Nevertheless, Genesis weaves and bookends the twisting of divine good intentions into human evils through willful disregard of God, and the untwisting of human evils into divine good via those who faithfully follow God, even if never perfectly. Genesis presents a story that shows how to live as God's image-bearer and how to be a blessing in the midst of a broad swath of evils perpetuated through a wide variety of agents and intentions. The theme of retribution does not surface without redemption close at hand. Rather, complex paradigms are employed in depicting the consequences of actions, mercy for the repentant, and grace for the faithful, whereas evil is portrayed as a violation of design and covenant. [Adapted from published abstract, pp. xi-xii—C.T.B.] Google Scholar 849. [Genesis 1–11] David M. Carr, Genesis 1–11 (International Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2021). Pp. 358. €109. ISBN 978-3-17-020623-6. C.'s contribution to Kohlhammer's International Commentary on the Old Testament (IECOT) series offers a synthesis of close readings of Genesis 1–11 and diachronic analysis of the formation of these chapters in their ANE context. His treatment of each component segment of these chapters is preceded by a new translation (with textual and philological commentary) and a concise overview of the ways in which the given passage evidences its process of formation over time. There follows a close reading of the passage that draws on older and...